Sports Year in Review: 2018

It was a monumental year for Greater Trail sports, and for the next three days the Trail Times will look back on the accomplishments, highlights, and events that marked 2018, beginning with January to April.

2 – The Beaver Valley Nitehawks name Jamie Cominotto as the new General Manager, taking over for head coach Terry Jones.

8 – Former Greater Trail players, Riley Brandt and Luke Bertolucci faced off against each other in the world’s oldest hockey rivalry. Bertolucci’s Queen’s University Gaels defeated Brandt’s Royal Military College Paladins 6-5 in the 132nd year of the distinguished game. Brandt scored twice and received player of the game.

9 – Trail native Chad Brandt of Action Fitness and Conditioning in Lethbridge was named one of Canada’s top physical trainers by Impact Magazine.

16 – Montreal Canadiens alumni led by coach Steve Shutt hit Cominco ice for a fundraiser against the Trail Old Timers.

16 – Fruitvale native Joe Cecchini realized his Olympic dream when he rocketed down the Olympic Sliding Centre track in his first day of skeleton competition on Wednesday in PyeongChang, South Korea. Cecchini is a skeleton racer with Team Italy.

8 – Trail Smoke Eaters sweep West Kelowna Warriors in four straight games with a 6-3 win in West Kelowna and go on to play Penticton Vees in division semifinal.

13 – The B.C. Major Midget Kootenay Ice fail to make the playoffs after injuries decimate line up and the Ice fall to Vancouver NW Giants in final two games.

14 – The Smokettes female hockey team donated two hockey sledges to the Trail Memorial Centre from funds raised from their annual hockey tournament to raise awareness and help those with disablities skate on Cominco Arena ice.

16 – Greater Trail Minor Hockey Association sends two teams to the provincial championships with the Pee Wee Tier 2 Smoke Eaters heading to Burnaby for the Tier 2 provincials, and the Bantam Tier 3 Smokies playing for the provincial title in Nelson.

16 – Rossland native and former Beaver Valley Nitehawk Archie McKinnon capped off his senior year by leading the Adrian College Bulldogs to an American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Div. 1 National Championship after an 8-1 thrashing of the University of Illinois on Tuesday.

23 – Trail Smoke Eaters fall behind 2-0 in series but comeback to tie series at 2-2 against Penticton Vees thanks to a highlight reel goal by Tyler Ghirardosi.

28 – Trail Smoke Eaters rally from tough 6-1 loss in Game 6 to defeat the number-1 seed Penticton Vees 4-2 in Game 7 of the Interior Division semifinal.

4 – Jeff Papilion returns to the Birchbank Golf Course as its Head Professional and Director of Golf as the course opens for the season.

10 – Trail Smoke Eaters playoff run comes to an end losing the best-of-seven Interior Division final series four-games-to-one in a 6-1 loss to the Wenatchee Wild.

10 – Humboldt Broncos tragedy hits close to home, as former Beaver Valley Nitehawks player Jaxon Joseph dies in crash.

11 – The Trail Smoke Eaters fire head coach and GM Cam Keith after leading the team to the BCHL semifinals.

12 – The Smoke Eaters send forward Andre Ghantous to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs to complete the exchange for Connor Welsh made just prior to the Jan. 10 trade deadline and moved forwards Ryan Moon and Daine Dubois to the Cowichan Valley Capitals, finalizing the trade made in December for goaltender Adam Marcoux.

17 – Michigan Tech Huskies forward Jake Lucchini earns WCHA Player of the Month honours in NCAA Div. 1 hockey. The former Smoke Eaters captain led the Huskies to their second straight McNaughton Cup, the WCHA tournament champions and a berth into the NCAA final 16.

24 – The Wenatchee Wild win the BCHL Championship with Game 5 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings.

Black Jack skier Julien Locke races on World Cup circuit with Team Canada